It has been a sombre summer for the England striker. His father died after a battle with throat cancer during the preparations for Euro 2012 and 20-year-old Hannah Defoe died last week, electrocuted when she dived into a swimming pool during a holiday in the Caribbean.

Defoe was back on the pitch at Vicarage Road and back in the goals as Tottenham continued their unbeaten pre-season under the new manager.

There were traces of AVB’s tactical trademarks around. The goalkeeper rolled almost every ball to his defenders, the central defenders split wide in possession, the full-backs roared forward and the midfield triangle tried to rotate.

His efforts to imprint this at Chelsea
were ultimately thwarted by the unsuitability of the players at his
disposal, their resistance to change and the impatience of the owner.

It
is unlikely that the Blues would have won the Champions League if he
had stayed and attempted to push through the change but perhaps Spurs
will be more receptive. It will probably hinge on results.

Tottenham have only one more friendly -
at Valencia on Thursday - before the Barclays Premier League season
starts at Newcastle and Villas-Boas has plenty of work to focus on.

Remember me: Injury-hit Jermaine Jenas got some important minutes under his belt against Watford

William Gallas headed over from Tom Carroll’s corner when he ought to have hit the target but that was about it. Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon were subdued but more influential after the break.

Watford are also in the midst of major
changes, with Gianfranco Zola coming in to replace Sean Dyche, who
finished in the top half of the Championship last season despite the
club’s severe financial limitations.

Zola,
back after two years out of management, told fans the club was entering
'a new era' but one of his new recruits, loan signing Daniel Pudil,
limped off after six minutes.

Villas-Boas
made four changes at half-time, sending on new signings Jan Vertonghen
and Gylfi Sigurdsson and Spurs started the second half with more
purpose.

Proving it: Jake Livermore continued to underline his value as a first-team member at Tottenham

Defoe grabbed his goal with a close range header after a strong run and cross from Kyle Walker, also on at the interval.

Watford responded well. Mark Yeates went closest to an equaliser after stealing possession from Younes Kaboul.

Yet Tottenham could have extended the lead. Manuel Almunia saved well from Bale and David Bentley but the Defoe goal proved enough to record a third win of pre-season.